iPhone images from Boat Harbour - North west Tasmania (remember, the best camera you have is the one you have on you!) I spent a wonderful 4 days at Boat Harbour, north west Tasmania, and was lucky enough to have a perfect day for photography when the sea was calm, when the water was a ‘stained glass’ azure. Everyone I met there was friendly, except for the knobheads that felt an irresistible urge to kick my little sculpture of found objects into the sea. ‘They're not from Tassie', said a passing lady who saw it. I rebuilt the sculpture and many others loved it. Some even took photos! More people are joining the ‘vancamerawoman’ blog every week and to answer a couple of their questions..... How much did the Mouse House cost? A van build will cost whatever you have to spend on one. I sold my house to have my tiny house in a van so I possibly spent more than others would if they were occasional travellers. I knew what I wanted and chose to go with the best I could afford in most things like the solar system, the stove/oven, the compost loo, the insulation, the rain sensor vent, the large skylight, the HW system etc. You can have it all, or you can have a bed and a bucket. To answer this question definitively is very difficult. Write a list of things you’d like to have, find out how much those things would cost and then find a builder if you cannot do it all yourself. Add it all up. Can you afford it? If not - reduce something. I will say though, if you are spending a lot on your van, the insulation and hard fittings like stove and compost loo, don't skimp on the light switches or the cabinet fittings. These may seem like little things but they can be a bit annoying when they don't work properly. Why am I doing it - living and travelling in a tiny house in a van? Why no house in the ‘burbs’ with endless hot water on tap and electricity to run a big fridge, washing machine and every other ‘thing’? Because..... How do you ‘really’ see the places I am seeing without going to them, sitting still a while, walking around, chatting to locals...If you don’t go? How do you relax without worrying about what is happening ‘at home’? Easy. Take your home with you. Take clothes for all seasons, food for all ‘fancies’, cookware and utensils for all whims - or a ‘fat wallet’ and take the chance on buying all your meals but watch out for ‘rumbly tummies’. If this happens to you cut out all dairy for 5 days. Eat brown rice with soy sauce (it’s nice). Eat a banana if you can find a ripe one and eat steamed veggies...no butter of course. I’m doing this because I am an artist, a photographic artist, who really does love to spend my time with my art. I can take photographs and then edit (or turn some into masterpieces) in my van...anywhere. It’s lovely to look out on a different view as I work. I’m also doing this to see what living ‘off grid’ with a tiny footprint is really like.
Photographs (slide show) from the 'real' cameras 🤗 My top 10 tips for vandwelling.... 1. To see the best of a place.....Go in the opposite direction from most others. Go to Tassie in the Spring or Autumn, far fewer people travelling and the chances of getting a great camp spot with views is much more likely. The sun still shines - ok the breeze is a little cool but with the right range of clothing you’ll have it covered! You won’t have to wait so long for anything - the chairlift, coffee, parking spot. It just makes sense doesn’t it? 2. Talk to the folk in the information centre. They really are full of local knowledge and are very friendly and helpful too. Many thanks especially to Mel, at the Arthur Pieman conservation area info centre. I learnt a lot and really enjoyed your company Mel. 3. Talk... if you want to but take the quiet if that’s what you would rather have. (Photographers and artists like to be immersed in trancelike states at times). Go for walks by yourself. See what you want to see. Take as long as you like. If you have a (folding) bicycle, get it out, meander along flat country roads - not necessarily a cardio workout - just for pleasure. 4. Have a craft or some art supplies with you. I have copper wire and fiddle about with little sculptures of ‘found’ objects’. Maybe take a little instrument too. Have fun. 5. Join ‘Borrow Box’ at your local library (if they have it) before you head off. When you have a little bit of wifi you can download books and audio books. I’ve read some great books on the road. I also have some movies and watching one can be nice on a rainy evening. 6. Avoid the news on radio, tv and papers. Constant re-enforcement of bad news can’t be good for the ‘wandering’ soul. Someone (or everyone) will tell you if you need to know something important. 7. Avoid social media. Too time consuming and really, do you need to know every detail about so many people’s life? Stick with one group that ‘lifts’ you, that makes you feel good. 8. Keep in touch with one really good friend or family member - someone you can chat to fairly regularly. Do this and you won’t feel isolated or lonely. 9. Don’t forget to wash! If you don’t have a shower, or access to one, or you are using yours for extra storage space, a bucket bath is fine. Wash behind your ears, between your toes and all the bits in between. Stay clean! Smell nice. Feel good 😊 10. Don’t get cold. Have more bedding than you think you’ll need. You can always sleep on top of it! Remember tip 1 Think ahead a little bit but don’t plan too much. ‘The best laid plans of mice and men will oft times go astray’. Remember that one?
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Springtime in North West Tasmania, beautiful!~ Everyone I have met here in Tassie so far has been really lovely - friendly and helpful. Here's a friendly Hi to Brett and Rowena who I met by the river yesterday and also 'hello' to the very helpful man who this morning was up for a friendly chat too. And to the trout fisherman... I hope you caught a trout or two today. Images from the Road - many taken from a moving car 😎
click on one and you can scroll through larger views. Enjoy, Clare on my origami bicycle. I do love mooching along roads without any traffic. Because I am taking so many lovely photographs I would like to invite you to relax, take a virtual driver's seat and see what I see as I travel. This first group of photographs were all taken in the last week and on an iPhone 6. I started this leg of the journey at Lake Carcoer, near Blaney, NSW and travelled a short distance onto The Etamooga Pub (where I thought I might stop but didn't) and then onto a small remote camp spot where I unfolded the bike and explored the country lanes. Then, the next morning, leaving early because rain and a muddy field may have meant getting bogged again, I drove onto Bethanga, a wee little village near Lake Hume. With a delightful friend, who kindly acted as sight seeing driver and guide, I enjoyed coffee by the river...the big one that runs through Albury/Woodonga and a quick wander through the railway station in Albury with it's super long station. I saw Lake Hume and Yackandandah (where the plants don't smoke and recycled toweling cloths are used instead of paper towels in the bathroom). I saw Mt Buffalo and the snow, stopping at the ski shop for a demo on how to fit the 'you must carry' tyre chains. Luckily we didn't need them. It was lovely on the mountain. Quite warm really if you are wearing longjohns under ski pants! Watching the children toboggan was a real joy. Crunching in the snow brought back memories of when I was a kid. That squeaky/crunchy noise is still the same! On the way home we stopped at Beechworth to admire the river and then stopped again at a little winery to enjoy a few tasty sips and a delicious platter of food as the sun set. It was a long day! The next day, in Albury, by the river and the community wood fired oven, Julia and I watched and listenend to Mathew Evens, The Gourmet Farmer (SBS) and co-owner of Fat Pig Farm in Tasmania. He's a nice guy, funny and friendly. The weather, warm at noon soon became chilly - the gourmet tastings were good little belly warmers though. After Albury I headed into Melbourne...right in! I took my favourite camera to the camera Clinic in Collingwood for a sensor clean. That was an interesting drive which, without the calm voice of my Apple maps co-pilot, could have been a bit hairy. At least in the big white van I can see - and be seen 🙂 They were really kind and helpful at the camera clinic. A good experience. I did choose, however, not to drive back into the city to pick the camera up when it was ready and instead found Zoom2U who can deliver within a couple of hours. 5 stars there too. After 2 nights at the lovely Big 4 tourist park in Coburg and the delivery of my camera, I droved out towards Barwon Heads and am now parked beside a big blue bus and a small aircraft runway - very close to Lake Connewarre where the Black Swans are nesting. I even saw two wild deer. These photos are pretty much in that order. Enjoy! There are loads more of course...on the other 3 cameras! So much to see when travelling in a Mouse House These are some images from small country towns along the Olympic Highway I have decided to amalgamate the images, learnings and musings into one simple blog story. Hope you like that idea too. Clare - heading over to Tassie on Sunday ...and just kept on going. How thoughtful? I've driven a little way. From Dorrigo to Blaney where I am now. Actually with this update I am now parked in Wombat!! I've driven a couple of hours from Carcoer dfam where I perched for 3 nights. The roads have been pretty good, some quite steep stretches with fantastic views. I have stopped to take photos but mainly I've snapped one or 2 as I drive with the iPhone - just so you can see what I have been seeing. Sometimes a co-pilot would be good! Enjoy the slide show of pics below, Clare While I was in Oberon, parked outside Jenn’s place, not only did I meet crazy Bella, the young pup, but I was taken to Jenolan Caves. A lovely drive from Oberon and I have to say I had the best chicken noodle soup for lunch there. All about food? Yes - sometimes it just is! These wind turbines suppply electricity to 500 homes in the Blaney shire. Up early this morning I took photos of the rising sun, the mist over the dam and the huge power generating windmills. Then I enjoyed the best ever breakfast of champions, delicious scrambled eggs (cheese and onion) on toasted bagels - all bought at the Oberon Farmers market - and fresh espresso coffee made right here in the Mouse House. Does life get any better? So now here I am with a nice hot cup of tea, sunshine pouring through the leadlight windows, listening to Mark Knoffler (thanks Hugh), scratching down some thoughts ready for the next Vanblog when I have Internet.
New photos from this leg of the journey are in the 'Photos from the Road' section. Some of them are on RedBubble. There is a link on the home page. Enjoy 😊 I might drive on today as it's really blustery here at the dam today. Next stop?? Not sure. PS...The sleeping bag is fantastic (so far). Wide and warm PPS.. Michael fixed the fridge plug problem in Mudgee - even if I did have to drive there twice! |
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